Bagels and Ballots - Wednesday

-Reading Rahm: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is still
playing out the possibility of running to become Chicago’s first
Jewish mayor. A recent
poll of his own gave
Rahmbo
a 14-point lead against possible challengers. (NBC)

-Oy, Pennsylvania: At a Pennsylvania fundraiser, Democratic Rep. Joe
Sestak, who is running
against Republican former congressman Pat Toomey for Pennsylvania’s Senate seat, introduced Barack Obama with some
yid-laced words — though neither is Jewish: Sestak called Obama a
“warrior, who is truly a leader in that mission of Tikkun Olam,” using
the Hebrew term meaning “repairing the world.” (Mitzvote)

-Big Guns: Michelle Obama announced that she’ll campaign for
Democrats in a few of the races we’re watching: Senator Barbara
Boxer of California; Sen.
Russ Feingold of
Wisconsin; Alexi
Giannoulias, running for senate in Obama’s home state of Illinois; and Dan Seals, who is
fighting to become
Chicago’s man in the House. And the appearances may leave their beneficiaries seeing green — the last time she spoke at a big DNC event, which happened to be woman-focused, the event brought in over $1 million. (Politico)

-In the Nick of Time?: The First Lady’s assist comes just in time for Feingold. According to a
Public Policy Polling
survey, his
opponent Ron Johnson now has a double-digit lead — and the Daily
Kos chalks it up to the much-discussed enthusiasm
gap and a “decisive
primary.” (The Daily Kos)

-Carl Paladino, Tea Partier and New York’s Republican
gubernatorial candidate, says he “condemn[s]” his earlier comparison of New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to Hitler. Meanwhile, the New York Daily News’
Celeste Katz predicts
that an endorsement from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is
very likely for Paladino’s opponent Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo could use a boost, as a Quinnipiac poll released today shows his challenger only six points behind.

AIPAC is kicking off its conference under a cloud of controversy over Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech.
As the meeting starts this morning, a fresh dispute raged over Shmuley Boteach's nasty attack ad aimed at White House security chief Susan Rice.

Of Rosanne Barr, King David Kalakaua and 9 other things about Jewish Hawaii

Yum. Deli Man is a mouthwatering journey to Jewish delis across the country, from New York to Houston - our review.

The #Missouri politician who committed suicide amid rumors that he was Jewish received at least $200,000 in political contributions in the past two years from a leading Jewish Republican donor.

Irving Kahn, the Jewish money manager who has died at the age of 109, exemplified a work ethic which stressed ever-fresh intellectual interests as a way to remain young in spirit.
We recall his legacy.

Chocolate-nutella halvah hamantaschen? This fudge and rich #Purim cookie is as delicious as it sounds.

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